Ward and Andrews Record Career Nights as Spartans Win 92-55

Feb 16, 2008

YORK, PA - Keli Ward (Nottingham, Pa./Oxford)
became York’s all-time assists leader and Amanda
Andrews (Fallston, Md./Fallston) tallied a career-high 25
points as the York College women’s basketball team exploded
to a season-high 92 points in their 92-55 victory over Wesley
Saturday evening at the Grumbacher Sport & Fitness Center. With
the win, the Spartans improve to 16-7 and 8-6 in league play while
the Wolverines drop to 11-11 and 7-6 in the CAC.

Needing only five helpers to set a new Spartan career assist
mark, Ward only took game’s first 7:50 to rewrite the record
books. With 12:10 remaining in the first half, Ward found senior
forward Kristen Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) who
converted her lay-up. Ward’s 396th career helper passed the
previous mark of 395 set by Heather Kessler during the 2004-05
season.

Up to this point in the contest, the visiting Wolverines were
having the better of the play. After being down 7-0 in the
game’s opening minutes, the Spartans clawed their way back
and grabbed their first lead of the game on another Daly lay-up
with 10:59 remaining in the first frame. Three more minutes of
back-and-forth play ensued before the Spartan offense exploded all
over the scoreboard.

A pair of Chanel Perez (Biglerville,
Pa./Gettysburg) scores brought the green and white from
down three to up one at 23-22 with 7:56 left in the half. The home
squad would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the
contest.

Following Perez’s tallies, the Spartans would embark on a
strong 21-8 run that would send them to the locker room up 44-30.

For the half, the Spartans shot 51.4% on 18-for-35 from the
floor including 5-for-11 from three. York also grabbed 21
rebounds during the opening 20 minutes including eight on the
offensive end. Wesley nailed 14 of their 28 attempts for 42.9% from
the field and went a respectable 4-for-11 from deep. On the glass,
the Wolverines were only able to manage 14 boards.

As strong as the Spartans finished the final eight minutes of
the first half, the green and white found an extra gear in the
second stanza. Andrews kick-started the period by canning her
fourth triple of the game 52 seconds into the frame.

Two and half minutes later Andrews would convert her fifth three
to put her team up 18 at 54-36 with 16:41 to go in the contest.
Andrews’ three started yet another Spartan eight-minute spurt
that would stretch the home squad’s lead to as much as 38.
Over the 28-8 run, Andrews would knockdown two more triples before
an April Sparkman (Walkersville, Md./Walkersville)
jumper gave the Spartans their first 38-point lead at 82-44 with
7:43 remaining.

York was then able to cruise over the final seven minutes to
capture the 92-55 win.

For the game, the Spartans shot 55.9% going 38-for-68 from the
floor. York was on fire in the latter 20 minutes nailing 20 of
their 33 attempts for a strong 60.6%. The Spartans were
unconscious from deep knocking down a season-high 13 treys after
shooting it 21 times from beyond the arc. In the second half
alone, the green and white went a balmy 8-for-10 from distance. The
green and white controlled the glass grabbing 46 rebounds to
Wesley’s 27 and also dished-out a season-high 26 team
assists.

Stunned by the Spartans’ offensive eruption, Wesley was
never able to get back on track. The Wolverines shot 34.4% from the
field on 21-for-61 shooting, but struggled mightily in the second
frame hitting only nine of their 33 attempts. Wesley’s
shooting woes spilled over to three-point land as they only managed
to go 7-for-23 from deep.

Ward’s record-setting night also included 15 points on an
efficient 6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-6 from deep. Her eleven
assists for the game ties her career mark and gives the junior 402
helpers over her three seasons. Andrews’ 25 points came on
9-for-16 shooting while she hit a career-best seven triples on a
mere ten attempts. Daly put in a solid senior night performance
tallying 16 points on 8-for-15 shooting while grabbing nine
rebounds and handing-out four assists. Perez and Sparkman gave the
home squad five players in double-digits as they each recorded
eleven points.

Wesley’s Angie Owens and Colleen Thomas each scored 16
points to lead the visitors. Owens, a 6-foot freshman forward,
tallied her 16 on 7-for-12 shooting and 2-for-5 from the charity
stripe. Sophomore forward Thomas hit five of her ten attempts from
the floor and went 2-for-4 from three. The CAC’s top
free-throw shooter at 87.2% also converted all four of her foul
shots. Freshman guard Cory Boyd dished out a team-high ten assists
as she put in a strong performance despite the end result.

The Spartans next travel to Gallaudet on Wednesday, February 20
for their CAC contest. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 pm.